\u201cWe\u2019re very, very excited \u2014 you\u2019ve got this fabulous five-star resort that is now part of the show,\u201d said Andrew Doole, president of U.S. Boat Shows at Informa Markets, the show\u2019s producer.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re taking both sides of the marina. There are events in the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also looking forward to the show\u2019s full access to the classy 88-slip Las Olas Marina,<\/a> which opened last December after a multimillion-dollar renovation.<\/p>\n One key question: How will external factors such as tariffs, overseas wars and rising prices affect attendance? The show, owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, has been racking up six-figure attendance<\/a> figures for the five-day in-water extravaganza, billed as the world\u2019s largest.<\/p>\n Superyachts moving fast<\/p>\n Mike Busacca, Fort Lauderdale-based chief operating officer at the global firm Fraser Yachts, said he\u2019s looking for a strong U.S. clientele to make an appearance at the show. The firm not only sells yachts, but charters, manages and provides crews for them.<\/p>\n The Monaco Yacht Show, which typically precedes Fort Lauderdale in September, \u201cwent very well,\u201d he said. \u201cThe traffic was a little bit down than normal. There were some extremely large yachts there. The momentum was great.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt just seems right now the smaller boats are having a more challenging time than the bigger yachts,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are seeing a strong segment of purchases in the big yachts sector.\u201d<\/p>\n Fraser will have eight yachts at Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n Busacca, a co-chair of the annual Yacht Rendezvous fundraiser<\/a> for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, which occurs a week after the show, said the firm\u2019s charter business has tripled this year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe never would have expected it,\u201d he said. \u201cI think the confidence level in the bigger yacht sector is stronger than it has been in a long time for us.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s showing up in Florida, one of the nation\u2019s hottest destinations for wealth since COVID-19.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is so much wealth that has moved to Florida \u2014 everybody wants to move into Florida,\u201d Busacca said. \u201cThe wealth between Miami and Palm Beach is more than I have ever seen moving here.\u201d<\/p>\n Show highlights<\/p>\n The show\u2019s promoters are pointing to \u201cshowcase\u201d vessels led by the 242-foot Casino Royale, according to a statement. The vessel accommodates 12 guests, offers six suites, a spa, gym, jacuzzi, and steam room. It requires a crew of 19 and has a range of 5,000 nautical miles.<\/p>\n Other notable vessels include Hemisphere, which at 145 feet is billed as the world\u2019s largest sailing catamaran, and the 180-foot Gene Machine with its 182-foot support vessel Gene Chaser \u201cdemonstrating the balance between family cruising and scientific exploration.\u201d<\/p>\n Debuts include the 100-foot BGM75 catamaran from Bluegame Yachts \u2014 a Sanlorenzo brand; the 130-foot Explorer 130, a steel-hulled expedition yacht \u201cbuilt for range and bluewater adventure;\u201d and the 110-foot AB 110, \u201ca high-performance sport yacht capable of speeds over 40 knots with sleek Italian styling.\u201d<\/p>\n Builders of smaller boats will be at the show in force with not only their vessels but new technologies.<\/p>\n For example, Brunswick, the world\u2019s largest marine manufacturer and home to more than 60 recreational brands, including Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Simrad and Mercury Marine, will be exhibiting its new self-driving, autonomous boating system.<\/p>\n Of loans and discounts<\/p>\n For would-be buyers with lower ownership ambitions, a little financial help is always available, though interest rates are about as lofty as they are for loans that fuel car and home purchases.<\/p>\n At Tropical FInancial Credit Union, Erick Padron, vice president of lending, says October through April is boat loan season. Most of his members are in the market for vessels 32 feet or less, he said.<\/p>\n Loan amounts go up to $500,000, with maximum terms of up to 240 months.<\/p>\n He said the credit union is waiting for Oct. 29, the day the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates, before conducting any promotions. Customers with good credit reports and 30% down payments can command a rate of 6.14%. At 20% down, a buyer can borrow at 6.34%.<\/p>\n Padron said he attends the Fort Lauderdale show yearly.<\/p>\n \u201cUsually you get good, good deals at the boat show,\u201d he said. \u201cThe manufacturers do offer incentives at the boat show. I ended up buying a small Boston Whaler. Usually they don\u2019t negotiate that much. I got $5,000 off the sticker price.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are a lot of incentives this year,\u201d he noted. \u201cI do recommend to my members to negotiate the prices because there are a lot of incentives and they don\u2019t always advertise those incentives.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis year I see more and more incentives with the boats compared to previous years,\u201d Padron added. \u201cThey\u2019re not moving that many units.\u201d<\/p>\n Las Olas Marina (240 E. Las Olas Circle) : Brokerage yachts, 60 to 200 feet. If you go:<\/p>\n![\"Yachts](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tfl-l-ftl-boat-show-2024-2.jpg\")
Yachts on display at the Superyacht Village during the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Brokers are expecting strong sales of the massive vessels when the 2025 show starts on Oct. 29. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tfl-l-ftl-boat-show-2024-5.jpg\")
Visitors surge through the 2024 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, pushing attendance past 100,000. More of the same is expected by sponsors this year between Oct. 29 and Nov. 2. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
\nThe seven venues<\/p>\n
\nHall of Fame Marina (435 Seabreeze Blvd.): Brokerage and new-build models. Windward VIP Club.
\nBahia Mar Yachting Center (801 Seabreeze Blvd.): Center consoles, superyachts, accessories and electronics.
\nPier Sixty-Six Marina (2301 SE 17th St.): Brokerage yachts, 100 feet and up. The marina will also host ORCA,\u00a0 a handcrafted recreation of the fishing vessel from the movie \u201cJaws,\u201d which burst upon the cinematic scene 50 years ago. It will be displayed with a \u201crecreated never-before-seen shark cage,\u201d a resort spokesperson said.
\nSuperYacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six (2150 SE 17th St.): Largest and most luxurious vessels at the show. Meet builders to design your next yacht. Lounge for Windward VIP ticket holders. Located at Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina\u2019s \u201cPier South\u201d property, adjacent to the southeast corner of the 17th Street Causeway bridge. Open to all general admission ticket holders. Direct access by water tenders and shuttle bus routes to and from all seven show locations.
\nBroward County Convention Center (1950 Eisenhower Blvd.): A showcase for fishing boats, runabouts, cruisers, marine accessories, fishing equipment, diving accessories, and personal watercraft. Visitors can attend women-focused seminars, The Blue Wild Kid\u2019s Corner, Don Dingman\u2019s Kids Fishing Clinics, and Boating to the Bahamas sessions. Note: the newly constructed convention center hotel<\/a> will not be open.
\n17th Street Yacht Basin at Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina (1881 SE 17th St.): Located across from the convention center on the west bank of the Intracoastal, the venue is a \u201cquiet enclave\u201d for superyachts 100 feet and up.<\/p>\n